Ødegaard Challenges Arsenal To Make More History In Champions League Final

• Martin Ødegaard says Arsenal want to “make even more history” by winning the Champions League
• The Gunners face Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday’s final in Budapest
• Arsenal are aiming to lift the European Cup for the first time after ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title

Martin Ødegaard has challenged Arsenal to complete a historic season by winning the Champions League and delivering the biggest trophy in European club football to north London for the first time.

Arsenal head into Saturday’s final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest carrying the confidence of newly crowned Premier League champions after finally ending a 22-year wait for a league title.

Now Mikel Arteta’s side have the chance to achieve something no Arsenal team has managed before.

The club’s only previous Champions League final ended in defeat to Barcelona in 2006, but Ødegaard believes this squad is ready to write another chapter in Arsenal’s history.

“For sure it’s something special that we can achieve what has not been done before,” Ødegaard said.

“As you say, it was 22 years since we last won the Premier League and now finally we did it.

“So we want to make even more history and when you get the taste of winning and lifting a trophy, you know how nice it feels, so obviously we want to do it again.

“And yes, it would mean a lot to every one of our supporters. We’re ready to do it and looking forward to the game.”

The Arsenal captain believes winning the Premier League has removed a psychological barrier that had followed the club in recent years.

After finishing runners-up three seasons in a row, suffering Champions League heartbreak against PSG and losing the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City earlier this campaign, questions had continued to be asked about whether Arteta’s team could deliver when the pressure was highest.

Ødegaard feels those doubts have now been answered.

“It was something really, really special and something we were fighting to do for so long,” he said.

“And of course, with that pressure, with the outside noise of people saying we can’t do it and all that, of course that’s gone.

“For us it doesn’t change a lot other than it’s an amazing feeling and an amazing achievement, but the mindset is still the same.

“We want to come here and win.”

The Norway international believes Arsenal’s difficult journey over recent years has helped prepare them for the biggest game in the club’s modern history.

The disappointments, near misses and criticism have all contributed to a squad that now arrives in Budapest convinced it belongs on the biggest stage.

“I think we just have to take all the positives, all the good feelings, all the good energy and the good experiences,” Ødegaard said.

“We’ve been through a lot as a group and I think everything we’ve been through prepared us well for these last few weeks and again tomorrow.

“So yeah, we’re ready for it and just looking forward to playing now.”

Standing in Arsenal’s way is a PSG side arriving as reigning European champions and packed with talent across the pitch.

But Ødegaard insisted Arsenal’s focus remains on themselves rather than their opponents.

“Obviously, we’re playing a good team with a lot of qualities, but we have full belief in ourselves, what we can do and the football that we can play and the results that we can get,” he said.

“That’s our main focus, to be us and to focus on what we can do and what we can control.

“It’s a big game, but we’re ready for it and fully believe in the team and everything that we can do on the pitch.”

Arsenal supporters have waited more than two decades to celebrate a league title and their entire history to celebrate a European Cup triumph.

After finally ending one long wait, Ødegaard and his teammates now have the chance to end another.